Start the Conversation

This week is Speech Pathology week in Australia. 

"This year speech pathologists around the country will be starting the conversation.....about the significant and often preventable disadvantage that people with communication and swallowing difficulties face each day. 

They want you to know that these people are over-represented in the youth justice system and are much more likely to experience an adverse event in hospital. They also want you to know that they have poorer health, educational and vocational outcomes and are more prone to mental health problems than other Australians.
They also want you to know that for many, if not most people, their outcomes can be substantially improved with the right services and the right supports"  www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/spa-news-a-events/speech-pathology-week 

 Across Australia let's "start the conversation" to improve the outcomes for people with non functional or low literacy.

 Think about how you present your written information. Do not assume every person who visits your service or organisation is able to understand and read the written information you provide.

• How much jargon have you used?
• How long are the sentences?
• Have you used a complex word or phrase, when everyday words say the same thing?
• Can a naive reader navigate the content?
• Would you read this information?

Talk to Cathy to "start the conversation" about how you provide written information.
Cathy
cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au
0466 579 855

When Youth Justice and Literacy Collide

Last week I attended the launch of "Back on Track" - a report on a recent "Speech Pathology in Youth (Justice) Custodial Education Project". http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/library/SPyce_Report_FINAL_lores.pdf

It was a report of what Speech Pathology services are currently available in Youth Custodial Education (none) and what is needed to assist these vulnerable youths in their communication skills. (Significant numbers), as can be seen by the prevalence numbers below from the report

From Page 10 SPyce Project report

Table 1. The prevalence of neurodevelopment disorders. (Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2013:23)

Neurodevelopment disorder	Reported prevalence rates amongst young people in the general population	Reported prevalence rates amongst young people in custody
Learning disabilities (Intellectual Disability)	2–4%	23–32%
Dyslexia	10%	43–57%
Communication disorders	5–7%	60–90%
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder	1.7–9%	12%
Autistic spectrum disorder	0.6–1.2%	15%
Traumatic brain injury	24–31.6%	65.1–72.1%
Epilepsy	0.45–1%	0.7–0.8%
Foetal alcohol syndrome	0.1–5%	10.9–11.7%

Of significance is many of these youth are well below educational standard - suggesting poor skills in literacy, numeracy and using written information to understand or explore their world.

How do these young people access written information? 
What impact would it have in accessing the legal system? Think about:
- knowing what laws are, and what they mean for the individual;
- reading written statements or composing written statements;
- attendance at appointments with police, social workers, or lawyers;
- reading witness statements;
- reading victim impact statements;
- court dates and mediation dates;
- expectations following mediation or community service orders.

Easy English may assist somewhat in these vulnerable youth accessing the information they need now.
Cathy
cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au 0466 579 855




Reference:
Caire, L. (2013).
Speech Pathology in Youth (Justice) Custodial Education Project Report.
Melbourne: The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited

Weblinks
www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3694873.htm

www.monash.edu.au/research/people/profiles/profile.html?sid=3672&pid=3478

Speech Pathology Australia www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au



www.theage.com.au/victoria/lessons-at-parkville-beat-school-of-hard-knocks-20120422-1xf4k.html